November 15, 2024 – According to a report by Global Times citing CNBC, Microsoft President Brad Smith stated at a technology conference in Portugal on November 12 that the West should not assume China is lagging behind the US and Europe in technological development. He believes that Chinese technology has already approached or is even catching up in many aspects.
During his interview with CNBC, Smith said, “Frankly, I think one of the dangerous things is when people who haven’t gone to China think that they’re behind. But when you go there, you’re impressed with what they’ve done.” He further predicted intense competition between Chinese and American companies in the technology sector in the future.
Meanwhile, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in the US has released a similar viewpoint. According to a report by Fortune magazine, the ITIF pointed out in a report published in September that China has already taken the lead in certain industries compared to the US and is rapidly catching up in areas where it hasn’t yet. The report specifically mentioned that China’s technological development in nuclear power, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence has reached or even surpassed Western levels, despite some gaps in semiconductor manufacturing, machine tools, and biopharmaceuticals.
Stephen Ezell, the author of the report, stated, “It is expected that within about a decade, Chinese technology companies will be on par with Western companies in multiple areas, and there is even the possibility of surpassing them.” The report also quoted Robert Atkinson, the chairman of ITIF, as saying, “Few people acknowledge that the US is competing for dominance in advanced industries, and even if they do, they believe American victory is inevitable. China’s technology system has real advantages, and the US should embrace many of its characteristics. Too many American policymakers, experts, and scholars refuse to believe the facts before their eyes.”
